Re: "The Ghan"

[mauried@tpg.com.au (Maurie Daly)]

In article <OFoP4.800$wX6.369071@news0.optus.net.au> "Dave Proctor" <daproc@spambait.ozemail.com.au> writes:
>From: "Dave Proctor" <daproc@spambait.ozemail.com.au>
>Subject: Re: "The Ghan"
>Date: Mon, 01 May 2000 23:44:46 GMT

>"Maurie Daly" <mauried@tpg.com.au> wrote in message
>mauried.424.002A30F6@tpg.com.au">news:mauried.424.002A30F6@tpg.com.au...

>> Davids correct about RAC looking after safeworking,but in reality do
>they,or > is the safeworking function contracted out.
>> I noticed that the last time I was in Albury that there is now a prominent
>RAC
>> sign on Albury Station Signal Box ,but the signaller in the box works for
>SRA.
>> ie just how much of RACs functionality isnt contracted out to someone
>else?

>This argument makes RAC look even worse, since all they have to do is
>undertake appropriate project management duties.

>Dave


This is the basic problem , ie why do we really need RAC.
If one looks at RACs annual report,the vast majority of its income is from 
just two customers ,namely Cityrail and Freightcorp.
Customers like NRC account for less than 10% .
What this means is that RAC (a Govt owned Corporation) is charging Cityrail 
and Freightcorp,(a Govt Authority and a Govt owned Corporation) for Track 
Access, ie the Govt is charging the same Govt to run trains in NSW.
Seems somewhat silly to me .
It would make some sense if the majority of the NSW rail operators were not 
NSW Govt owned.
One may argue that eventually freightcorp may be privatised,but its not likely 
that Cityrail will be in the medium to long term.
A more sensible approach would be to cut out completely the extra layer of 
Govt regulation and simply abolish RAC.
Hand back to Cityrail the track that it currently runs over,and allow it 
(Cityrail to negotiate access rights for 3rd parties),do the same for 
Freightcorp (ie all the intrastate NSW lines that arnt deemed to be part of 
the "National Network,if indeed anyone really knows) ,and lease (a la Victrak) 
the rest to ARTC.

This gets rid of an uneeded layer of Govt regulation ,and allows the operators 
who are the majority operators to determine their own track funding 
priorities.
Of course , this kind of approach isnt in the interests of RAC ,or indeed of 
the Govt as Govt owned Corporations make excellent sources of revenue thru
the requirement to pay dividends to their shareholders.

Maybe its time to re introduce the old ,dare I say it ,NSWGR,at least then we 
had only 1 organization responsible for running trains in NSW.

MD